Musical instrument



C. H. DE BENITES.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 11, 1921.

Patented Mar. 21, 1922.

Fig.

BY I? 1 acter.

UNITED, STATES PATENT OFF'l -C'E.

CELSOH. DE BENITES, OE. HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

Application filed February 11, 1921.

To all w-hom'itmay concern:

Be it known that Cnnso H. DE Bnnrrns; a.

citizen of the United States, residing at Hartford, in the county of Hartfordand State of Connecticut has invented certain new and useful Improvements in Musical Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

' 'Ihis-invention relates to a musical instrument. The musical instrument-may be independent of or it may be incorporatedin another instrument suchfor instance as a pipe WVhen the hammers are manually operated I generally provide but two of them, one in each handofthe'user: In case the instrument should be automatically operated such as in theillustration. I give; there wouldbe probably a larger-number ofhammers. The invention however does not concern thenumber of hammers nor the way in which they are operated. I have anumb'erofobjects in view among them being the provision of an article of the character set forth by which pro-per resonance is secured, and this resonance may be modified, that is either increased or decreased at the will of the player.

In the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification Ihave shown in detail one of the several forms of embodiment of the invention which to enable those skilled in the art to practice the same will be set forth fully in the following description so that musicians skilled in the art may practice the same. Obviously I am not restricted to such disclosure. I may depart therefrom in radical respects within the scope of the invention defined by the claims following said description.

Referring to said drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan View of a musical instrument involving the invention.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the same as seen from the front.

Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 looking toward the right.

Specification of Letters Patent Patented Mar. 21 1922.

Serial No; 444.286.

Fig. 4 isa detail sectionon the line 4-4' of Fig. 1i

Fig: 5 isa'detail hereinafter more particularly described.

Like charactersrefer to like parts throughout. the several views.-

The various elements of the instrument maybe-sustained in any suitable'manner, a table such as that denoted in'a: gen'eralway by 2 being suitable for the purpose. As shown this tablecomprises a top3 and'several supporting legs as 4'. The top 3' as shown has in it alongitudinalopening o'in which the bars to'be operate'dare ordinarily mounted, the slot or op'eningdas'shownbeing' of tapered formation;

atthe right, thebase and treble portions being generally respectively located thereat'.

The bars" shown are each designated by 6 and they are generally made of metal" although the invention'is not limited' in this respect but I might observe that aluminum answers-my requirements in a satisfactory manner. new with me, but the manner in .which they are'mounted' is because desira'bly'they are mounted for floating movement by" reason of which I can modify"their'vibrati'on as will hereinafter more particularly *appear." Thebars 6 have their heads or innerends' reduced as clearly shown in Fig. 1 to receive between them the inner ends of the bars 6'. The bars 6 as will be understood represent full tones while the bars 6' represent half tones.

Under each bar 6 is a resonator 7, the resonators 7 being in two rows so that at least one resonator will be directly under each bar. The resonators 7 of the front and rear groups are therefore staggered or in zig-zag formation. The resonators 7 desirably float and this effect I can obtain as in the case of the bars by having them yieldingly mounted and I will explain hereinafter a way by which this result is attained.

Through the respective bars extend the yokes 8 generally of some heavy wire. As shown the side branches of each yoke converge downward near their lower portions and each yoke receives between its side branches a resonator 7 The side branches of the yokes 8 extend as shown through strips 9 usually of some wood and are encircled near their upper ends by the coiled The bars 6 in themselves'are not As represented its large end is at the-left and the small end springs 10 which bear respectively at their terminals against the strips 9 and bars 6. The side branches of the respective yokes are shown as having at their upper-ends stops or heads 11 which coact with the respective bars 6. The bodies of the resonators 7 as shown have connected to their upper corner the springs 11 which diverge upward and which are respectively connected at their upper ends with the branches of the yokes 8 a short distance below the bars 6. The foot or base portions of the resonators 7 as shown are of wedge form and have in them perforations as 13 by which the efficiency of the resonators is materially increased. From the extreme lower ends of the resonators 7 the springs 14 extend downward and have extensions 15 generally of wire which slidingly extend through the strips 16 usually of Wood to which the lower ends of the yokes 8 are connected. As shown the extensions 15 are united at their lower ends to a frame as 17 which is operatively connected as by the links 18, of wire usually, to the pedal 19 upheld as shown in some suitable way as by the spring 20. As shown the top 3 of the table supports as by pivoting, the bail-like lever 21 constituting a damper normallyupheld in some convenient way as by the spring 22, the outer end of the lever being under the respective bars 6. As shown the links 23 generally of wire are connected to the lever 21, these links or wires 23 converging downward and at their point of convergence being connected'with a pedal as 24 upheld by a sprin as 25. I

In ig. 4 the two pedals areup so that the minimum resonating effect of both the bars 6 and the resonators 7 is secured. If the resonating effect of the bars 6 is to be illcreased the pedal 2 1 will be lowered thus lowering the yoke-like lever 21 away from the bars and increasing the resonance of the bars in correspondence with the amount of movement of the pedal. Should the resonating effect of the resonators 7 necessitate an increase, the pedal 19 will be depressed. It is also well to note that the vibratory effect of the resonators T is materiallyincreased by the holes or perforations 13 in the base or foot portions thereof. These holes or perforations in practice may be covered if desired by a suitable wafer by which the resonating effect is modified.

\Vhat I claim is:

1. A musical instrument having a series of bars tuned to furnish a musical scale, each. bar being mounted for floating movement, and floating resonators under the bars.

2. A musical instrument having a series of movable bars tuned to furnish a musical scale, and means for effecting a variation in the amount of movement.

3. A musical instrument having a series of bars tuned to furnish a musical scale, each bar mounted for floatin movement, and floating resonators under e bars, and means for effecting a variation in the amount of movement of the floating resonators.

4. A musical instrument having a series of bars tunedto furnish a musical scale, each bar mounted for floating movement, pedal operated means for adjusting the amount of movement of the bars, floating resonators under the bars, and pedal operated means for varying the amount of floating movement of the resonators.

In testimony whereof I afiix m si nature.

CELSO H. on B )N TES Witnesses:

N. E. BLAKE, HEATH SUTHERLAND.

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